Aaron Edge Design

LP (and CD) of the day:

2012-01-11T18:19:00.000-08:00

While conceived in the same sessions as the first installment, recorded by Stuart Hallerman at Avast and mastered by Mell Detmer, Angels of Darkness, Demons of Light II invokes even more improvisational and unrestrained energy than its predecessor. Angels of Darkness, Demons of Light will be released by Southern Lord in North America on February 14th via CD, 2xLP and digital download.

I designed Earth's first Darkness layout, happy to design part II! Beautiful lllustrations by the super talented Stacey Rozich. CD files and poster shown below:

LP (and CD) of the day:

2012-01-11T18:07:00.000-08:00

Purveyors of huge, riff-heavy instrumental metal, Pelican, have announced the release of a new EP through Southern Lord. Ataraxia/Taraxis will be released on 10th April. It's described as "a new chapter in the band's evolution, with a reenergized focus on composition and the utilization of the recording studio as a creative tool in the songwriting process, yielding one of the most diverse efforts in the band’s prolific discography."

The four tracks on Ataraxia/Taraxis are more concise than some of the quartet's more sprawling songs of old, and move from darker, more ambient periods through to great expanses of the band's trademark monolithic, hollowed-out riffage.

I have wanted to work with this band for so long, very happy to finally design a record for them... photos by the very talented Andrew Weiss. CD files (+ poster) shown below:

Shirt of the day:

2011-12-09T11:35:00.000-08:00

I love my job. Often. Like today, LTW asked for a creep on their next shirt... ok, here's a creep:

LP (and CD) of the day:

2011-12-01T14:02:00.000-08:00

North Carolina/Virginia instrumental metal outfit Loincloth's debut full-length, Iron Balls of Steel, will hit streets on January 17th. I am very happy to have put this layout together for them!

Shirt of the day:

2011-12-01T13:59:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite newer bands right now is none other than Canada's BAPTISTS. Got to design their 7" early this year and now a fun shirt for them too. Hail!

CD layout of the day:

2011-11-16T18:25:00.000-08:00

History people. Go back to yer roots. Get schooled. I was given the opportunity to design the CD version of the first (of six) re-issues of Poison Idea recordings.

Today was a good day.

Logo of the day:

2011-11-07T17:36:00.000-08:00

Rote Hexe (red witch) needed a logo, I made a deal with the devil and got to design it...

1 sheet of the day:

2011-11-07T17:34:00.000-08:00

Burning Witch box set! HUGE deal! And, killer that I am part of it all somehow!!!

Poster of the day:

2011-11-07T17:30:00.000-08:00

Heavy stuff, sunn O))), always a pleasure to be a part of this band's wake of high decibelosity!

Shirt of the day:

2011-10-19T14:42:00.000-07:00

Got a chance to design and colorize a shirt for Black Cobra's new record, Invernal. Nice illustration by Sam Ford.

Logo of the day:

2011-10-19T14:34:00.000-07:00

The band, Swallowing Swords, needed something special for their new logo... mirrored, simple and striking.

Forgotten posters of the day:

2011-10-10T17:35:00.001-07:00

Came across a link today, fun to see some old posters and flyers I created years back. Gig Posters is such a rad site!

CD of the day:

2011-08-29T18:38:00.000-07:00

Black Cobra... you know 'em, you love 'em. New CD and LP out soon on Southern Lord. Happy to be part of their legacy of heaviness!

7" of the day:

2011-07-28T17:00:00.000-07:00

Dead in the Dirt 7" out soon. Got to work with gnarly, crusterific illustrations by Bo Orr for this design. This collection of energetic songs rules!

LP gatefold of the day:

2011-07-28T16:41:00.000-07:00

Noothgrush? Really? Yes really... this live radio broadcast from 1996 + 1999 comes out soon and I am happy to be part of it. Here's the LP layout, there's a CD as well.

Poster of the day:

2011-07-13T14:54:00.001-07:00

Great bands, great tour:

CD of the day:

2011-07-07T12:44:00.001-07:00

Hailing from the filthy bowels of Richmond, VA, Balaclava play hardcore punk music with severe intensity. Influenced by bands like Neurosis, His Hero is Gone and Cursed, they have begun to shape their own take on the intersection of punk and metal. Their sound ranges from sludgy, crust-ridden dirges to restrained, ominous melodies to moments of blistering triumph. Their debut full-length, Crimes of Faith, is a thoughtful, multifaceted expression of seething animosity and fervent exultation. Super radical band, stoked to have been part of this new release!

LP of the day:

2011-07-06T15:15:00.000-07:00

YOB. My absolute favorite band and client. I could type three pages on why working with this band makes me happy... but, three sentences will work just as well. Ok, four... YOB!!!!!!!

CD of the day:

2011-07-06T12:52:00.000-07:00

Sarabante is a hardcore/crust band from Athens, Greece. I was lucky to be part of Remnants, the band's debut release! This cd is limited to only 1,000 machine numbered copies, via the Southern Lord label. For fiends of: Tragedy, From Ashes Rise, Neurosis.

CD of the day:

2011-06-14T16:16:00.000-07:00

A super cool project for me to be part of! On August 13, Tee Pee Records will proudly issue Saguaro (1995-2003), a deluxe triple CD collection of the very best from celebrated Los Angeles rock band BLUEBIRD. Saguaro (1995-2003) gathers peak performances culled from BLUEBIRD's critically-acclaimed recordings and selections from various singles and compilation tracks which serve to further elucidate BLUEBIRD's unique sound.

Updated BLUEBIRD news and information will be made available via the Tee Pee Records website.

CD of the day:

2011-05-10T11:37:00.000-07:00

Planks are heavy. Planks are honest. Planks needed art. I was happy to help. I kept it dark, like the music and the messages. Planks are an intense, darkened hardcore/metal band from Germany. This exclusive Southern Lord CD release compiles both The Darkest of Grays 12" and the Solicit to Fall 12". This is the first time any of their recordings have been available on compact disc. Whether through driving melodies, explosive noise, or the most fragile of interludes, Planks hits hard and resonates deeply within the listener. At the core of the band's approach is evenly influenced by groups like His Hero is Gone as well as Neurosis and even Dark Throne. Their surging hardcore/punk power chords are forcefully accented by dissonant melodies.

Shirt of the day:

2011-05-09T16:12:00.000-07:00

More merch for the sisters... keep it comin', love working with this band! So heavy! (front and back)

12" of the day:

2011-05-09T16:06:00.000-07:00

From Umea, Sweden (my people) comes Southern Lord’s newest D-Beat/Crust masters! The debut LP from Misantropic is Insomni. Great to be a part of this vinyl release.

Shirts of the day:

2011-04-15T14:48:00.000-07:00

Planks designs, both of which I am quite proud of... simple, dark, dirty:

CD of the day:

2011-04-15T12:58:00.000-07:00

Seven Sisters of Sleep, a down-tuned heavy riff machine, has released their sonic thunder as an LP and Southern Lord is releasing that same storm in CD format... that's where I come in. A great collage, by Mike Kebdrick, for me to work with in the layout:

Shirt of the day:

2011-04-14T17:05:00.000-07:00

The Cassettes are an interesting mix of... well, all kinds of music, originally formed as an outgrowth of front-man Shelby Cinca’s four-track recordings: odd pop nuggets that diverged from the teeth-gritting angst of his previous project, Frodus. Their songs serve as a sort of sonic refuge from the hectic touring schedule of the punk rock lifestyle. The band members have described the band’s sound as “steampunk”, and also as “synth-infused country stomp”.

I donno. I just like making art, and they like that I like making art. So, they liked themselves right into asking me to make art for them… some art, that they like.

CD + shirt of the day:

2011-04-12T16:20:00.000-07:00

For Alpinist, I created a folded poster CD layout. Great band, honored to be part of this project!

Poster of the day:

2011-04-12T13:27:00.000-07:00

For J Shogren's upcoming tour... a super creative man and as nice as they come! Always a pleasure to be part of his music.

Radness of the day:

2011-04-07T12:07:00.000-07:00

The OFF! 7” that I designed came out, officially, today on Southern Lord Records. How happy am I to be part of something so awesome? Very... as seen below with Keith Morris, the band’s frontman. His old group, the Circle Jerks, were an American hardcore punk band formed in late 1978 in Hermosa Beach, California. They were among the preeminent hardcore punk bands of the L.A. scene in the late 1970s... and kinda’ changed my life. Thanx Keith!

Mug of the day:

2011-04-05T17:39:00.000-07:00

People love the band Earth. People love to drink coffee. Now folks can do both, at the same damn time.

Get yers here. You are welcome.

Shirts of the week:

2011-03-28T11:59:00.000-07:00

Designing merch for bands in the most fun, especially when you know that the group's fans will be wearing those designs as personal advertisement... here are some I designed this last week.

Clients include: Xibalba , Winter, Earth, Baptists and The Accused:

Hoodies of the week:

2011-03-25T18:15:00.001-07:00

I do love a good hood, and so some were designed for amazing bands this last week. Clients include: Mark D., Acephalix, Drainland and Misantropic.

Shirt of the day:

2011-03-24T19:14:00.000-07:00

Seven Sisters of Sleep, a crushingly heavy band, needed a new shirt design... I do what I can:

7" of the day:

2011-03-24T18:48:00.000-07:00

"The trials, tribulations, and moral musings of a 18th century french duelist caught between the desire to kill and the fear that it is perhaps rude."

Les Gants first record, The Challenge, with its straight forward raw recording, is available in a one time only (limited edition of only 300) one-sided, clear vinyl, stencil-screened records packaged in hand stamped and numbered covers. Fun stuff to design, fun to listen to. I love my job(s).

Fast. Short. Loud.

Fun.

Shirt of the day:

2011-03-18T16:42:00.000-07:00

Deadkill. Gold toof. Awesome. Great band to work with, google 'em:

CD of the day:

2011-03-17T17:41:00.000-07:00

Drainland dwell in Dublin, Ireland. Their intensity's saturated with not only the sludgy heaviness of Eyehategod but the crusty filthiness of His Hero is Gone. And So Our Troubles Began is a compilation of two vinyl only releases and can be considered the bands debut release on this CD. So stoked to have been asked to work on their layout, a 2 panel single insert and tray card. Limited to 1,000 machine numbered copies. An essential!

1 sheet(s) of the day:

2011-03-17T14:28:00.001-07:00

When a band or artist is going to release a new LP or CD, their record label/publicist will pass a "1 sheet" around the webbernets to the press, record stores and distributors that will carry the release. Here are a few samples of 1 sheets that I have done recently (all for bands on the Southern Lord label):

Illustrations of the day:

2011-03-16T11:29:00.000-07:00

If you look back a few posts, you will find the designs that I did for a split 12" record between the bands Mercy Ties and Grenades. Here are the shirt files I illustrated for both bands:

Another shirt of the day:

2011-03-09T18:17:00.000-08:00

New Southern Lord Recordings shirt, based off of the ol' Mormon "Holiness to the Lord" phrase:

And click for a close-up:

Shirt of the day:

2011-03-09T15:03:00.000-08:00

This merch compliments the Summon the Crows CD layout that I created for 'em:

CD of the day:

2011-03-07T13:04:00.000-08:00

Had the pleasure of working on the new Summon the Crows One More for the Gallows CD, limited to only 1000!

Shirt of the day:

2011-02-28T15:13:00.000-08:00

Stoked to put together the LP/CD design for Weedeater's new release, Jason... the Dragon, and only so much more happy to make a limited to only 100 (well, 99, 'cause I took one) 2-sided full color shirt too! Click HERE and scroll down to order yours right away!

There is a CD + Shirt + poster package and one for the LP as well.

12" of the day:

2011-02-23T11:35:00.001-08:00

Two bands and two handfuls of awesome songs!

Grenades and Mercy Ties (both of Seattle, WA) recorded tracks and decided to release the tunes as a split 12" on their own record label. They wanted a theme for the design that would wrap the bands together. I thought that because neither band should be the "cover" or "back cover" of the release, that both sides should be connected by art, a story even...

I busted out a marker, made some sketches, scanned them in, added a ton of grit and what you see is the final product.

I am very happy to have been asked to be part of such an incredible release, especially since I gotta' chance to do some illustration!

7" of the day:

2011-02-18T12:43:00.000-08:00

I haven't been this excited in a long time. I should say, I love my job (designing record/CD covers and merch for bands), and I love all of the projects that are thrown my way. All the band members, managers, A&R folks and label owners that put their trust in me and my experience are some of the best relationships that I have.

Then something incredible comes along. Lemme introduce the band OFF!

"The individual roots established by Keith Morris (Black Flag/Circle Jerks), Dimitri Coats (Burning Brides), Steven McDonald (Redd Kross), and Mario Rubalcaba (Hot Snakes/Rocket From the Crypt) are uniquely woven throughout the rock music canon. Each has challenged society's cyclical and complacent ideals in their own respective bands, and three decades on they've never strayed from their intentions. Now they come together as a four-piece called OFF! and they're as confrontational as ever, lunging inside the aesthetic of West Coast hardcore to push life's most provocative issues to the forefront."

The band has a brand new, two song 7" coming out on Southern Lord Recordings this April. It's blowing my mind! Since Keith's old band (The Circle Jerks) released the album Group Sex, I have been sold on his voice and lyrics. That record changed my life, for realz. And now, I get a chance to work on his new band's record?

Dream. Come. True.

Here are the 7" covers + vinyl labels: the first layout (Vans shoe design) is limited in pressing and for an upcoming tour with Trash Talk.

CD of the day:

2011-02-03T15:53:00.000-08:00

The heavy band, Cascabel, asked me to design their new CD... I kept it dark and only black/white for a somber effect, which relates to the band's theme. Photography by Helen Hill.

7" of the day:

2011-01-12T13:01:00.000-08:00

Baptists are a raging band from Canada... lucky for me, I designed their new 7" layout. Black and white, with a grey/black swirl on the vinyl.

1 sheets of the day:

2011-01-11T18:33:00.000-08:00

Printer visit of the day:

2011-01-10T12:24:00.000-08:00

Stoughton is one of the awesome printers that I use, they are currently working on the new Earth release that I designed. I had a bunch of fun visiting the print shop the other day... talking with the hard-working crew there, seeing and editing the proofs, flipping out over the strange machines in the giant building. Can't wait to see the final LP product and hold it in my damn hands!

CD/LP/Poster of the day:

2010-12-30T14:36:00.000-08:00

Weedeater just plain rules, and I am thrilled that I got the pleasure of designing their new CD/LP entitled, "Jason... the Dragon". The paintings are done by super famous illustrator, Arik Roper. Look for it in stores March 2011!

CD/LP/Poster of the day:

2010-12-03T15:53:00.000-08:00

There is this band, they are called Earth. They get more interesting to me with every release, and the new one is (in my opinion) THE best collection of songs to date... it gets released in a few months on Southern Lord Recordings.

I was lucky enough to be part of this release by designing the CD, LP and poster.

It is always super radical to work with a band you like and a painter you like too, beautiful stuff here by artist Stacey Rozich. Look for it in stores February 2011!

Logo of the day:

2010-10-20T09:12:00.000-07:00

A new band needs a new logo, sometimes I'm the guy for the job.

Poster of the day:

2010-10-19T11:26:00.000-07:00

The Seattle doom band, Roareth, is having their last show... a poster was needed, and I was happy to create it.

Logo of the day:

2010-09-15T09:20:00.000-07:00

The band, Raw Umber, needed a new logo... and so, now there is one.

Cassette of the day:

2010-09-12T09:10:00.000-07:00

Got the priv of designing for a split cassette between and Scyphozoa and Hellvetika. Nice to work with a great illustrator too (click image to see detail).

Poster of the day:

2010-08-12T09:45:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, you get asked to design a screenprinted poster for your favorite band... how could I say no, how could I not deliver? The venue is an amazing place too... so happy with this project.

4 colors on bright white stock, 18x24.

Gatefold of the day:

2010-07-22T09:13:00.000-07:00

Created the design for Roareth's new release, Acts I-VI... a hand-numbered run of only 100 CD copies. The discs were printed up and now I have my copies. Very happy with the results.

Photo project of the day:

2010-05-09T08:52:00.000-07:00

Here are my submissions for the eight week, themed photo project that some friends and I were part of... themes included "reflection", the color "red", "darkness", "lines", "earth", "letters", "movement"and "texture":

Digipac of the day:

2010-04-27T11:44:00.001-07:00

The very talented J Shogren asked me to design his new release, Bird Bones & Muscle, the second CD that I have done for him... got my copy in the mail today, we make a great team I think.

“J Shogren kicks right into gear with his powerful delivery. There are more than a few lyrical broken hearts that may have been treated with a bottle of whiskey, salve and painted blue. Listen and see what you think. There seems to be a narrative style to the arrangement, a defined story line that adds depth to the overall production. There is a thoughtfulness that becomes more clear each time you listen... Shogren continues to surprise and captivate, it seems to have been well worth his sweat and efforts."

LP of the day:

2010-04-19T10:50:00.001-07:00

My favorite band to listen to (and work with as a client) is releasing the Great Cessation LP soon. YOB and Southern Lord have asked me to do the layout for the double vinyl project and I am thrilled. My image doesn't do it justice, because the "grey" is actually a clear varnish and the band's logo is a silver foil. For now, this cover image will have to do.

"YOB have released a new album in the form of The Great Cessation (Profound Lore/Southern Lord) that only further solidifies the position and notoriety gained while they were defunct. Would have been something if they came back and sucked, next to impossible as that would be."

CD of the day:

2010-04-18T09:19:00.000-07:00

Greg Anderson, of Southern Lord Records, contacted me about designing the CD version of the band Black Breth's LP... I, of course, was extremely happy to do it.

"Southern Lord is proud to present the CD release of Razor to Oblivion, the ferocious debut EP from Seattle’s Black Breath! Their sound is acutely classic without being painfully retro; a ripping blend of Bathory, Celtic Frost, Poison Idea and Discharge. Recorded in January of 2008 Razor to Oblivion was released as a 12" EP on the band's own Hot Mass Records label. This Southern Lord issue of the EP/album on CD was remastered by Mell Dettmer (Sunn0))), Eagle Twin, Wolves In The Throne Room) with package layout by Aaron Edge."

Logo of the day:

2010-04-18T09:04:00.000-07:00

A new record label, the Maple Forum, asked me to design a logo for them... ask and ye shall receive:

"The Maple Forum is a short-run label created with the intent of helping release the music of artists. The focus is not on sales or who can move the most units. This is an in-house operation, geared toward those who still believe in music enough to directly support the people making it. Essentially, this is a new forum for supporting creativity in a way that writing reviews and posting interviews simply can’t accomplish."